Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praises Blake Snell after tough loss to the San Diego Padres in an NL West clash at Petco Park.

The Padres traded for Mason Miller because he can throw 103 mph with a wipeout slider. A bonus: Evidently, he can pick it at first base, too. In the biggest moment of the Padres’ biggest game yet this season,

The San Diego Padres are in the middle of a key race for the National League West against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's a shame the Dodgers and Padres won't end the regular season against one another because the NL West title could still be in play 31 games from now.

The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.

That’s because here, at Petco Park, they have consistently bottled successful baseball. Only one team, the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers, has a better winning percentage at home. The Padres have not lost a series in the East Village since the second week of June, when the Dodgers took two of three games.

Teoscar Hernández strikes out with Mookie Betts at third base in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres that ties the teams for first in the NL West.

San Diego Padres All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill is out of the Padres' lineup once again for the Friars' series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers F